Hickfield Clinic

September 4 1:45 p.m.

"Are you sure you want to leave so soon, boss? Are you sure you'll be okay?!" Athena asked with utmost concern.

"Yes. I will be fine." He assured her with a wide smile.

The nurse had recently given him medication along with a small juice and jello to eat along with it. "The doctor said he wanted you to not strain your voice or do any strenuous activities until your throat fully recovers."

"What?! I can't shout objection?!" Phoenix had a hard time mustering the words higher than a shout.

"What did I just say?" the nurse retorted.

"Sorry…" Phoenix picked up a spoonful of the generic jello and put it in his mouth. The taste wasn't pleasing and it was very bland. What got his attention the most was its nice vibrant red color. He almost hesitated before taking another spoonful. He took some time finishing the jello and swallowing it, making sure it didn't grind against his internal scratches. He played with the pill in his hand before popping it in his mouth and chugging the juice quickly. He placed the cup back on the tray as the nurse threw out of the rest of the contents.

"Now, the doctor said he'll be giving you an antibiotic in case any infections occur. Please follow the label on the prescription." The nurse was scribbling hastily on her clipboard. "Also, he recommends starting tonight. In case there is any swelling, dizziness, nausea, difficulty breathing or vomiting occur, please come back."

She finished scribbling on the small clipboard and passed him a small blue note with barely legible writing. 'Of course. The doctor handwriting.'

Phoenix awaited for Trucy to return from the office with a new outfit from his wardrobe. His previous outfit was tattered and ripped up more than a kindergarten art class first learning how to make paper mache.

'Aww man… and that was my favourite vest...'

She came back with a gym bag. Wright opened it and pulled out a folded sweater. "Ah…! This old thing!"

It was the brown sweater with two blue stripes leading down the arms, along with his loafers, a black t-shirt, and sweat pants. "Thank you Trucy."

Trucy smiled, "but wait! There's more!" She took out her wand and magic panties. Waving the wand over her panties, "Presto!" She later removed his signature cyan blue beanie with the word "Papa" knitted onto it. "I even packed your hat, Daddy! The outfit just wouldn't be the same without the hat!"

Phoenix lightly chuckled as she handed his nostalgic hat that she made him. "You know… this brings back so many memories. Some good. Some bad. But it always reminds me: the time where I gained a beautiful daughter called Trucy." He looked at Trucy.

She had her hands against her face, blushing. "Hee hee. Daddy stop!"

Phoenix changed his wardrobe from the uncomfortable hospital gown to his comfort clothes, placing the beanie last as his crown.

Apollo stepped into Wright's room. "Oh my goodness! Just like how I first met you. And how I defended you too!" Apollo couldn't help, but feel nostalgic and proud when he saw his employer's outfit that he had first met with him personally, defending him in court against murder no less.

"Still suits me, hmm? It'll have to do for now. I need a new suit." Phoenix shrugged.

Wright, Apollo, Athena and Trucy stood in the front of the main office of the hospital as soon as Phoenix changed his attire. Phoenix was anxious to leave the hospital. He didn't want to be in the same hospital where he was forced to watch Steel Samurai episodes from his young former assistant and had to write an essay on each, yet he did them. 'For her, of course...'

"Here's the discharge papers, sir" The receptionist handed a clipboard and he quickly filled it in then handed it back to her. She tapped several keys on the keyboard. "Have a good day."

They headed out of the slide doors of the clinic to the subtle weather of outside. They headed to a local pharmacy for a prescription that the doctor had given Phoenix for antibiotics. They waited on the bench seats of the pharmacy. Athena kept staring at Phoenix, when he finally took notice.

"Yes, Athena?"

She looked at him dumbfounded. "Boss, don't you think it's weird?"

He looked at her confusingly, shifting his position, "What is?"

"Your situation. What happened? Don't you think it's odd how similar it is to the victim of your last case?"

He looked at her with disturbance, "I didn't notice that. Yeah. It does, doesn't it?"

"Do you think it had to deal with that…." she forced her body to regurgitate the word, "woman?"

"No. Plus she was found innocent. Someone else did it. It was most likely the same person who attacked the victim. Probably going after me after I defended her in court." Phoenix said while tapping his index finger against his chin.

"But the same fashion! We never found that person. Don't you think Edgeworth should really have looked deeper into this?"

"Yes, but-" he was interrupted by the pharmacist. "Phoenix Wright?"

He looked up and headed towards the lady in the white gown. "Take this twice a day, no more than 5 days."

"Okay", he nodded. "Let's go."

Athena was still grumbling to herself on the way to the office. 'There is something going on around here...'

The group made it home to find it in a mess. There were some remnants of the investigation still left behind by Edgeworth's team. "They could've at least cleaned some of this up." Phoenix sassed.

All of them helped clean up the mess and disheveled the office had suffered. Phoenix picked up the files and papers, Trucy was fixing her magician props and cards that were knocked over. Athena and Apollo helped overturn furniture and clean up whatever remained broken on the floor.

Phoenix looked at the small puddle of blood. "I'm sorry you had to catch me like that, Apollo. It must've been hard."

Apollo looked down, mop in hand, ready to clean up his boss's bodily fluid from the floor. "It doesn't matter, as long as you're okay. It's all that I'm concerned with, Mr. Wright."

Phoenix gave a soft smile, feeling touched by his employee's words.

It took some time to realize that it took at least two hours to fix up the mess inside and outside the office hallway.

Athena patted her hands together as if wiping off dirt in satisfaction, "a clean office, is a happy office!"

Phoenix slumped on his office chair, bummed out. 'Ha… I saw what I did there...'

"What's the matter, Daddy?" Trucy looked at her father, his eyes covered from view.

He took a while to start, "I can't take cases as of now."

Apollo and Athena looked in concern, "Why not Mr. Wright!?"

"Didn't you hear the nurse? She said I couldn't strain my voice and I should rest easy until my throat heals up."

"You don't have to yell 'OBJECTION!' or 'TAKE THAT!' that loud in court." Apollo suggested.

"That coming from the guy who exercise his "Chords of Steel" every morning before a trial." Athena sassed sarcastically.

Apollo greeted her to a pout and looked at their boss. Glum on his current situation and that he needed a new suit.

"You can use this time to get yourself a new suit!" Trucy interrupted.

"That's a good idea Trucy!" Athena applauded.

Phoenix suddenly came to realization, almost cracking and straining his voice, "Where's Pearl?!"

"Oh, she went back to Kurain. Said something about being an emergency." Trucy had her head up in thought.

"Did she say what it was?" Phoenix asked worriedly.

"No." Trucy stumbled on the last word.

Phoenix began to worry. His brows furrowed together. 'I hope everything is okay...'

There was a knock on the door. Phoenix shot a terrified look at the door as if he had Deja vu. Apollo answered. A police office came with a bag. "This is for…" she looked back at the tag, "Mr. Wright?" This was the contents that were left inside your clothing." She handed the bag to Apollo. "Be safe."

"Thank you." Apollo closed the door, shuffling the bag, and gave it to Phoenix. Phoenix grabbed the bag and opened it up to show his Magatama, a locket, and an envelope."

Phoenix put the locket over his neck and the Magatama in his pocket. He squinted his eyes at the envelope and opened it. Money.

It had money. He couldn't remember where the money came from. But small glimpses of darkness made him shudder and feel cold even though he was in his sweater. "I think… this is payment. From our last client."

"YOUR last client!" Athena folded her arms and pouted.

Phoenix opened it up and realized that it had more than what he charged. "Ugh… she gave us too much. I can't accept all of it."

"Just keep it, Mr. Wright. We're done with her," Athena scolded.

"That's not right, Athena. And you know that well."

Athena pouted the other direction, stomping one foot in the process.

Phoenix shuffled with the envelope more and a small note slipped.

It read: "Keep the change, Phoenix Wright. - Fate"

Phoenix's eyebrow began to twitch and he, smiled?

"Boss?" Apollo nudged his shoulder.

"Hmmm…?" Phoenix hummed. Still smiling looking at the note as if it had sentimental value.

"I think it's best we leave you alone to help muster enough strength to get back on your feet and get a new suit." Apollo pat Phoenix's shoulder. "Don't worry. Athena and I will keep the office afloat!"

Phoenix's smile grew wider. "Thank you."

He stared at the pill bottle and popped it open. He took one and closed the cap placing it back in his desk. He finished up the legal papers and shuffled them neatly into a file and inserted it into a file cabinet, completely done rearranging the files.

He glared at the clock to find out it was nearly 11 p.m. He snapped out of his chair and headed towards his room. He hung up his sweater and t-shirt. He kicked off his loafers and hung up his pants while placing his hat on the closet hook.

He was relinquished from his wardrobe burdens and lied in solitude in his tank top and boxer briefs.

He began to slowly close his eyes from exhaustion and soon succumbed to sleep.